HP keeps the fun rolling with its MediaSmart Windows Home Servers. It’s called the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo, but don’t let the name fool you, it doesn’t directly increase your TiVo’s storage. The app, however, still has some nice features and might be a worthy replacement for the TiVo Desktop program.
The new companion program allows MediaSmart owners to transfer recorded programs between the network-attached TiVo and a MediaSmart server. Recordings can also be managed to some degree as well. Sounds like the free TiVo Desktop program, right?
But the new app also always any computer on the network to watch the programs stored on the MediaSmart server. Chances are those computers will also have to have the WHS app installed as well to circumvent TiVo’s DRM. Truth be told, this can be done as well with the TiVo Desktop program, but each computer will need to have it installed as well, while the WHS app takes the solution to the server rather than each individual client. Makes sense.
Best of all, the app is free and currently available for all EX MediaSmart servers.
pics via MSWHS
Consumers Can Now Manage TiVo DVR Recordings
from HP MediaSmart ServersPALO ALTO, Calif., March 10, 2010 – HP today made available HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo®, a new software application that lets TiVo DVR(1) owners manage video content from an HP MediaSmart Server.(2)
With a high-definition (HD) DVR from TiVo,(3) consumers can record, pause and rewind live TV, and access the world’s largest on-demand video library(4) to watch hit movies, TV shows, music videos and popular web videos.
With the new software application, which is offered at no charge to MediaSmart server owners, TiVo owners can:
— transfer shows from a TiVo DVR to a HP MediaSmart Server and back to a TiVo DVR
— manage TiVo recordings stored on a HP MediaSmart Server
— watch TiVo DVR recordings that are stored on a HP MediaSmart Server on any PC in the home
Based on the Microsoft Windows® Home Server platform, the HP MediaSmart Server is a central repository for automatically backing up and accessing digital music, videos, photos and documents from multiple computers on a home network.(5)
The HP MediaSmart Server automatically organizes files across all Windows and Mac computers, streams media across a home network and the Internet,(4) and publishes photos to popular social networking and photo sharing sites.
“The HP MediaSmart Server is the ideal companion for TiVo users. With the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo, consumers can record more high-definition programs and not worry about filling their DVR since they can transfer their movies and shows on the HP MediaSmart Server and watch them on their PC,” said Jason Zajac, vice president of Attach, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Plus, consumers will benefit from all of the additional features the HP MediaSmart Server provides, such as backing up all Windows and Mac computers.”
Pricing and availability
The free HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo application can be accessed through the Windows Home Server Console of the HP MediaSmart Server EX490/EX495 and HP Data Vault.
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the HP MediaSmart Server EX490 with 1 terabyte of hard disk storage is $549, while the HP MediaSmart Server EX495 with 1.5 terabytes is $699.(6)